GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KJCT) – Four people suspected of auto theft were arrested by multiple agencies.
On April 16, in Rifle, Colorado, troopers with Colorado State Patrol, SPEAR, and deputies with the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office arrested four suspects after they crossed state lines.
The arrests are a result of a long-term investigation across multiple agencies, which is still ongoing. Authorities believe the group has operated in Colorado and Utah for a considerable amount of time and is likely responsible for multiple thefts across both states.
On April 15, coordinated efforts between Colorado and Utah law enforcement agencies led to the identification of a suspect vehicle in eastern Utah. Law enforcement believed that the suspects would return to Colorado on April 16 with stolen vehicles.
Colorado law enforcement was able to identify and locate the suspect vehicles as they entered Colorado. Shortly after, they performed multiple traffic stops, which led to the arrest of the following individuals:
- 20-year-old Luis Leiva Arizmendiz
- 19-year-old Nerio Estrada Soto
- 35-year-old Roberto Soto Cruz
- 29-year-old Lorena Mendoza Soto
All four of them have been charged with:
- Second Degree Motor Vehicle Theft
- Felony 4 Second Degree Motor Vehicle Theft
- Felony 4 Theft over $100,000
- Felony 3 Conspiracy, Felony 6
All of the recovered stolen vehicles and trailers were estimated to be worth over $170,000. This includes two trucks, two Polaris Rzrs, two trailers, and one Polaris Rzr frame.
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